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Tech firms and child protection organizations will be granted authority to assess whether artificial intelligence systems can generate child abuse images under new British legislation.

Substantial Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Material

The declaration came as revelations from a protection watchdog showing that reports of AI-generated CSAM have more than doubled in the past year, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

New Regulatory Framework

Under the changes, the government will permit designated AI developers and child safety organizations to inspect AI systems – the underlying systems for chatbots and visual AI tools – and ensure they have adequate safeguards to stop them from producing images of child exploitation.

"Fundamentally about preventing exploitation before it occurs," declared the minister for AI and online safety, adding: "Experts, under rigorous protocols, can now detect the danger in AI systems promptly."

Tackling Legal Challenges

The amendments have been introduced because it is illegal to create and own CSAM, meaning that AI developers and other parties cannot create such images as part of a testing process. Previously, officials had to delay action until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before addressing it.

This legislation is designed to preventing that issue by enabling to halt the creation of those materials at source.

Legislative Framework

The changes are being added by the authorities as modifications to the criminal justice legislation, which is also establishing a ban on possessing, producing or distributing AI models designed to generate exploitative content.

Real-World Consequences

This week, the official toured the London base of a children's helpline and listened to a mock-up conversation to advisors involving a account of AI-based exploitation. The call portrayed a adolescent seeking help after facing extortion using a sexualised AI-generated image of himself, constructed using AI.

"When I learn about children facing extortion online, it is a source of extreme frustration in me and rightful concern amongst parents," he said.

Alarming Data

A leading internet monitoring organization reported that instances of AI-generated abuse material – such as webpages that may contain multiple files – had significantly increased so far this year.

Instances of category A content – the gravest form of exploitation – increased from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086.

• Female children were predominantly targeted, making up 94% of illegal AI depictions in 2025
• Depictions of newborns to two-year-olds increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Industry Response

The law change could "represent a vital step to ensure AI products are safe before they are launched," commented the chief executive of the online safety foundation.

"Artificial intelligence systems have made it so victims can be victimised repeatedly with just a simple actions, giving offenders the ability to make potentially limitless quantities of sophisticated, lifelike exploitative content," she added. "Content which further commodifies survivors' suffering, and makes young people, especially female children, less safe on and off line."

Support Session Data

Childline also published details of support sessions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related risks mentioned in the sessions include:

• Using AI to rate weight, body and looks
• Chatbots discouraging young people from consulting safe guardians about harm
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated material
• Online blackmail using AI-manipulated images

During April and September this year, the helpline delivered 367 support interactions where AI, conversational AI and associated topics were mentioned, significantly more as many as in the same period last year.

Half of the references of AI in the 2025 interactions were connected with mental health and wellness, encompassing using AI assistants for assistance and AI therapeutic applications.